First forestry award winner named

John Lewis receives the medal from Forestry Commissioner Judith Webb

An award recognising excellence and innovation has been presented in memory of a late head of the Forestry Commission in Wales.

John Lewis, from Llangurig, Powys, beat 20 other nominees to win the Ian Forshaw memorial medal.

Mr Lewis, the first recipient of the award, was a wildlife manager with the commission until his retirement recently following 26 years' service.

Mr Forshaw was the director of the commission and died suddenly last year.

A spokesman for Forestry Commission (FC) Wales said: "John started as a forest craftsman carrying out a wide range of skills such as planting, weeding, felling and extracting timber.

"He eventually became a wildlife ranger and then wildlife manager, guiding a team of dedicated rangers whose work in managing a variety of wildlife today serves as a model followed by many other countryside agencies."

Mr Forshaw's successor as FC Wales director, Trefor Owen, said Mr Lewis "embodied all the qualities of excellence and innovation" in forestry which Mr Forshaw encouraged and supported throughout his career.